Pressing and folding mechanism



NOV. 5, 1929. TREjQ M 1,734,654

PRESSING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed D80- 16. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 5, 1929. R. TREJo M 1,734,654

PnEssING AND FOLDING MECHANISM I Filed Dec. 16. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 5, 1929. I R TREJQ M 1,734,654

PRESSING 'AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed- Dec. 16, 1927 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 79 a5 84' a5 72 7g 5 4 1929. R. TREJIOYM 1,734,654

PRESSING AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed De e. 16. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mia Patented Nov. 5, 1929 matter eaten? series RAFAEL 'rnnao M, orcriloAeo, rumors rnnssme AND Fonz-nus MECHANISM v Application filed December 16, 1927. Serial Mar iage-5.1

This invention relates to mechanism for pressing and folding towels, napkins and similar flat pieces. The invention is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in

' which: f

Figure 1 is a side. elevation of a machine embodying my invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation showing the opposite side of the machine with part of the operating mechanism removed;

Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the same showing this operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing 5 the folding mechanism at the instant of making a fold in the towel; l V

Fig. 5 is a partial section on the line 5 of Fig. 3; I I I v Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged section onthe line6ofFig. 5;.

Fig. 7 is a partial. enlarged section on-the line 5 of Fig. 3; i

Fig.8 is a partial enlarged vertical section on the line 8 of Figs. 1 and 9; and

Fig. 9 is a partial side elevation showmg the mechanism for operating the folder.

The embodimentillustrated comprises a combined pressing and folding mechanism located upon a table 10 which is supported 0 upon suitable legs 11. The machine has two spaced side frame members 12 and,13 upon which are carried shafts 14, 15, 16 and 17 which are journalled in suitable bearings. These shafts carry drums 18, 19, 20 and 21 respectively which are preferably covered with cloth and which serve as pressing drums as will later be described.

This machine is driven by means of a motor 22 which has a pinion meshing with a gear 23 which-carries a pinion 24 which meshes with the large gear 25 which is keyed on the shaft, 14. The opposite end ofthis. shaft (Fig. 2) carries a sprocket 26 which drives a sprocket 27 keyed on the shaft 16by meansof a sprocket chain 28.; The shafts 15 and 17. are driven by means of a gear-train as shown in Fig. 2. g

The'drums 18, 19, 20 and 21 are all driven at the same surface speed. Beneath these drums lies a fabric band or belt 29 which.

passes over a seriesjof rollers 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 which turn freely so as to permit this belt to be driven by frictional contact with the various drums.

Thus it will be seen that a towel or dislike enters as indicated by the arrow in Fig.- 1 between the drum 21 and the belt 29 will follow. the path of the beltpassing under the various drums and finally emerging from between the drum 18 and the roller 34.; 1 In order toheat the drums 19,20 and 21 so as to cause them to dry the towels and the like while passing beneath them, I have provided a pipe 35 which connects with a pipe36 which leads to a boiler or other suit- 5 able source of steam'supply. The pipe 36 leads to the drums 19, 20 and 21. A similar pipe 37 leads to the space beneath these drums and between the upper and lower strands of the belt 29. Suitable valves 38 and 39 control V the'steam passing through these pipes.

The folding mechanism will now be described. The shaft 14 has a pinion 40 (Fig. H

3) keyed thereon which meshes with an idler 41 whichin turn mesheswith a second idler 42 which is journalled on a stud 43 carried f by the main frame 13. The idler '42 carries a series'of intermittentgear sectors 44 which are securedto the side of the idler 42. These sectors mesh with a gear 45 keyed on a shaft 46 which is suitablyjournalled the main frame 13. This shafti46 carries a rocker arm 47 which is pivotally connected 'through'a "link 48 with a platoon frame 49 "which is p votallyconnected to the "table 10 at the 35 hmge point 50'. The pla-te or frame49 is normallydrawn back by a suitable spring-51, As'shown in Fig; 3, one ofthe gear sectors 44 is just beginning to engage the gear-.45

thereby driving'it forward and causingthe arm 47 to move thereby forcing the frame :49

to the right. This action continueso as shown in Fig. 4 until the frame 49 lies fiat-upon the top ofthe table-1O thereby carrying forward the towel A as it emerges from beneath the drum 18 and giving a fold A The mechanism is holding this fold while the frame 49returns. The shaft 46 carries a gear segment 52'which: meshes with a gearrack 53.- The latter passes over a spring 54 and carries a short section or rack 55 which meshes with an interrupted gear 56. This gear is carried a shaft 57 which is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the table 10. The shaft 57 carries an arm 58 4) which in turn carries a foot 59 which serves as a means for holding the forward edge of the towel fold A In order to permittheoscillating frame 49 to pass out from under the foot 59, l have provided the frame 49 with a yieldable member 60 which is pivotally connected thereto by hinges 61 and wh-ichis normally held in substantially the same plane by means 7 line position of Fig. 4. As the short gear section passes beneath the gear 56, the foot '59 falls of its own weight until it assumes the full line position of Fig. 4 so as to rest upon the top of any fold of the towel A or the like. By this time the gear sector 44 has passed the gear 45 andthe spring 51 throws the parts back to the position shown in Fig. 3 The oscillations of the frame 49 are so timed that they lay the towel A ina-series of flat folds A with one fold over the other until the entire towel has been thus laid with a series of transverse folds one over the other. The plate 49 has a yieldable strip secured at its outer edge by means of hinges 61. This strip is normally held up in the full line position shown in Fig. 6 by means of springs 62 at the hinge points. This provides a yieldable edge so that the plate 49 can be withdrawn from beneath the foot 59.

As the gear-rack 53 is drawn by means of the gear-segnient 52 to the left, the short section, or rack, 55 engages the gear 56 thereby actuating the arm 58. At the end of the movement to the left, the gear 45 passes out of engagement withthe gear sectors 44 and permits the gear-segment 52 to rotate in the opposite direction and permits the gear-rack 53 to be returned to a position at the right by means of the spring 54, or any other suitable means. r i

It will be observed that the missing teeth in the interrupted gear 56 permits the gear-rack 53 to be retracted to a position on the right without engaging the gear 56.

The mechanism for folding the towel about its axis extending longitudinally of its movement will now be described. The

motor 22 drives the gear 63 which is keyed on the shaft 64 which is journalled beneath the table 10 in suitable bearings. It carries a bevel gear 64 which meshes with a gear 65 on the shaft66 which is likewise journalled beneath the table 10. This shaft carries a roller 67 about which passes a belt 68 which passes under a tightening roller 69 as shown in Figs. 5 and 7,. The belt 68 extends to one side of the machine and serves to convey the towels, napkins and the like after they have been folded as will later be described.

The shaft 6'6 carries a friction wheel 70 which is continuously driven by the motor 22. A friction wheel 71 (Fig. 8) is keyed on a shaft 72 and carries a gear sector 7 3 which meshes with a similar gear sector 74 on the shaft 75. The shafts 72 and 75 are parallelto each other and lie near the top of the table 10' as shown in Fig. 7. These-shafts are normally in the position shown in Figs. 5 and8.

The shaft 75 carries a leaf 76 of sheet metal or the like, theleaf being normally retained in positionas shown in Fig. 5 bya spring 77 coiledabout the shaft 75. The shaft 72 is provided with a similar leaf 78 which is nor-1" mally held in the position .shown in Fig. 5 by the coil spring 79. The leaf 78 has an extension 80 lying at rightangels thereto whose purpose will laterbe explained. V

A; transversely disposed shaft 81 is controlled by means of a lever 82 as shown in Fig. 1 which is at the side of the machine and under the control of the operator. If desired this may be controlled by a treadle instead of A a hand-lever. he shaft 81 carries a suitable axle 82 upon which is journalled a friction wheel 83. As shown in Fig. 8 this friction wheel is normally out of contact with both the friction wheels 70 and 7 1, but by rocking the shaft 81 the friction wheel 88 is brought into frictional engagement with the friction wheels 70 and 71 so that it serves to transmit power from the wheel 70 to the wheel 71. When this occurs the shaft 72 is turned clockwise as viewed in Figs. 5 and 8, whilethe shaft 75 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction. It will be understood that the folding of towels, napkins and the like, as has previously been described, takes place upon the leaves 7 6 and 78. The actuation therefore. by the operator of the shafts 72 and 75 causes the leaves 76 and 78 to fold toward each other thereby causing the towel to assume the position A of Fig. 7

At the same time the extension 80 of the leaf 78 forces the central part of the towel through the opening 84 in the. plate 85.. The

towel is then caught between the belt 68 and loo the roller 69 which are then continuously in operation so that the towel is drawn through between the belt and the roller thus complet- 'ing the fold of the towel and carrying it to the side of the machine where it is dried upon a suitable table' or the like. A

The operator pulls the lever 82 only long enough to cause the fold to be made. (Should he hold it longer, however, than 'just; enough to cause the leaves 76 and 78 to move to the position shown in Fig. 7, slippage will occur; between the roller 83 and the friction wheel 70.

In order to prevent the shaft 81 being actuated to cause this last folding operation taking place while the plate 49 is in other than the retracted position shown in Fig. 3, I have provided the shaft 81 with a control-arm 86- gear 45, another of the gear sectors 44 will fall beneath the shoe 87 thereby preventing the shaft 81 being moved to a position which will cause the friction roller 83 being brought into engagement with the friction wheels 70 and 71. Thus it will be seen that it is impossible to actuate this last folding mechanism 'while the plate 49 is in other than the retracted position.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes therefore in the construction and arrangement may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim r 1. In a folding mechanism, means for transversely folding a towel, leaves adapted to receive said folded towels, said leaves being hinged about axes extending longitudinally of the machine and means actuating said leaves and serving'to-fold the ends of said towel inwardly.

2. In a folding mechanism, means for transversely folding a towel, leaves adapted to receive said folded towels, said leaves being hinged about axes extending longitudina-lly of the machine for folding the ends of said towel inwardly, said leaves being spaced apart and having an opening therebetween through which the towel may pass, one of said leaves having a flange adapted to force said towel through said opening.

3. In a folding mechanism, means for transversely folding a towel, leaves adapted to receive said folded towels, said leaves being hinged. about axes extending longitudinally of the machine for folding the ends of said towel inwardly, said leaves being spaced apart and having an opening therebetween through which the towel may pass, one of said leaves having a flange adapted to force said towel through said opening, and a belt conveyor beneath said opening adapted 5. In a device of the character set forth, means for folding towels transversely, means for folding towels longitudinally, including an oscillating member lying in the path of said towel, means for holding the forward edge of the folded towel while theoscillating member returns, and a yieldable forward edge on said member.

6. In a device of the character set forth, means for folding towels transversely, means for folding said towels longitudinally, in-

eluding an oscillating member lying in the j path of a towel, a yieldable forwardedge on I said member, and an arm adapted to overliesaid forward edge when at the most forward part of its swing to grip a towel folded thereon.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of December, 1927.

i RAFAEL TREJO ML to carry said folded towel to one side of the 7 machine. I

4. In a deviceof the character set forth, means for folding towels transversely and means for folding said towels longitudinally, including an oscillating member lying in the path of said towel, and means for holding the forward edge of the folded towel while the oscillating member returns. 

